Acclaimed actor Pete Postlethwaite dies at 64 due to cancer

[News_Editor]

Acclaimed actor Pete Postlethwaite dies at 64 due to cancer

2011-01-04 02:13:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND (BNO NEWS) -- Acclaimed actor Pete Postlethwaite on Sunday died at 64 from cancer, the Guardian newspaper reported on Monday.

Postlethwaite, who was described by the best actor in the world by director Steven Spielberg, died peacefully in a Shropshire hospital after a long-time battle with cancer. Despite his disease, the actor continued to work throughout the treatment.

The British actor had just finished filming his last movie "Killing Bono" which is scheduled for release in April. He portrayed a landlord in the film and was undergoing chemotherapy throughout the shooting, according to the Telegraph.

"We had to film it in a very specific manner because Pete could only work a certain number of hours a day," said Director Nick Hamm. "It was very difficult to see his performance without tears in our eyes. The movie turned out great for him. But we had to keep this all pretty private because he didn't want his illness to be public knowledge."

Postlethwaite was nominated for an Oscar award in 1993 for his performance as Giuseppe Conlon in the film "In the Name of the Father." Another prominent films of Postlethwaite were "Brassed Off" in 1996 and "The Usual Suspects" where he played the mastermind Kobayashi.

The British actor worked with Spielberg in two occasions; in 1997 he acted in the acclaimed adventure film "Jurassic Park," and in "Amistad," a movie about a slave mutiny on a ship.

Postlethwaite was born in Warrington. He initially wanted to become a priest but eventually worked as a teacher. However, he joined Liverpool's Everyman Theatre and began acting.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-04

[Scott]

It's very sad to lose such a talented actor. He will be missed and I look forward to seeing his last film.